Metal coatings

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UV / EB coatings are used to provide corrosion protection, abrasion resistance and decorative appearance to metals such as aluminum, cold rolled steel, brass, magnesium, and nickel, but still have a minimal footprint in the UV / EB market mainly for well established coating applications. For new emerging markets such as refinishing automotive, housing for electronic devices., UV / EB is considered to be a feasible and valuable alternative to the existing coating technologies.

Their chief advantage over conventional coatings is the elimination of the time and space required for curing ovens and sequential quench cooling. This greatly speeds production and reduces energy costs.

Energy curable coatings are used in coil coating to provide color for laundry appliances or fingerprint and scratch protection for stainless steel refrigerators, stoves and microwave ovens. They can provide exterior branding graphics for metal packaging as well as interior slip for cans. Other general metal applications include steel tubing and pipe, bolts, screws, fasteners, sporting equipment and consumer goods.

Both UV and EB systems are used to coat magnet wires used in motors, coils, transformers, generators, alternators and other electrical components. These applications require energy curing coatings that are abrasion resistant, tough and flexible enough to permit winding and have sufficient thermal stability to meet established electrical standards.

The automotive industry currently uses UV / EB coatings for wheel trim, steering wheels, mirrors, roof racks, door handles, grills and other trim, as well as for truck bed liners and exterior body refinishing. The automotive industry is poised for growth, as luxury car makers have begun using UV urethane topcoats to provide a higher gloss finish with scratch resistance and greater weatherability for longer life.

Cationic systems provide advantages such as low shrinkage, superior adhesion to metal applications. IGM offers both cationic oligomers as well as cationic photoinitiators.